Pipe coupling



OdN 7, 1947. A. G. @CLE 2,428,65'2

PIPE COUPLING oct 1, 1947.

Filed Aprilas,` 1945 A. G.' COLE PIPE'oUgLING 2 sheds-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

BY JM V/ .v I

Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE Claims.

The invention pertains to a pipe coupling and more particularly to a quickly or readily releasable connectionbetween sections of piping employed in hydraulic dredging operations. The average hydraulic dredging operation necessitates the use of a discharge or conveyor line which, in not unusual instances, approximates or exceeds a thousand feet or more. Further, the discharge pipe utilized in hydraulic dredging operations has certain portions thereof carried by pontoons and the latter, except in rare instances, When the Water in which the pontoons float is exceptionally quiet, varies constantly and considerably with respect to one another in vertical and horizontal directions. It will be appreciated, therefore, that for the floating portion of the discharge line at least, it is highly desirable for the success of the dredging operation, that this portion of the line be provided with connections of the type which will .be sufficiently flexible as to readily compensate for the varying relationship of the supporting pontoons. Heretofore the floating pipe sections have been connected by means of heavy and expensive metallic ball and socket joints. This type of connection, while in wide use, is not entirely satisfactory in actual practice due to the abrasive action of sand, gravel and other foreign substances passing through the pipe and tending to wear the heavy collar or band welded in the ball and socket joint to protect the latter against abrasion. The rapid wear of the collar necessitates the continued replacement of the ball and socket joints and with the consequent shut down of the operation until a Worn ball and socket joint can be replaced by another. The Weight and bulkiness of the ball and socket joint renders this interchange a diicult and costly operation.

With the above, therefore, as a background, it may be now stated that an object of the invention is the provision of a flexible, adjustable, inexpensive and easily removable coupling for two sections of pipe employed as conveyors in a hydraulic dredging system or operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coupling for a plurality of sections of piping with the coupling being so arranged and constructed that it may be easily and readily assembled, disassembled or replaced.

A feature of the invention is to provide a coupling for piping with the coupling having pinconnected hinged parts. An added feature of the invention is to provide a coupling adapted to connect metallic pipes with the coupling comprising a metallic member secured to a metallic pipe and removably secured hinged metallic members clamping a contiguous extremity of a liexible tube in a fixed predetermined position.

The above objects and features of the invention, as Well as numerous others, will become apparent from the succeeding description considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a pipe coupling embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the coupling shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an end elevational View of an assembly of some of the components of the pipe coupling with the components illustrated in an open or inoperative position.

Referring no-w in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, the numeral I is employed to designate, in a somewhat general manner, a section of piping of substantial and circular cross section adapted for use in a dredging operation wherein water, sand, gravel, etc., are conveyed from one location to another. While it will be appreciated that the present invention is primarily concerned with pipes or conduits of large proportions, it

0 may equally be employed with piping of small cross section. The pipe coupling comprises two sections of metallic pipe 3 having associated ends 4 thereof spaced a predetermined distance apart with this distance controlled by the particular circumstances in each individual case. Each pipe has a ring-like disc, Washer or end flange 5 sleeved over an end thereof to be disposed substantially flush with the end of the pipe. Rather than form the end flange in the nature of a machined and expensive collar threadedly secured to the pipe, each end flange, which presents a barrier or bulkhead, is secured to a related pipe section by means 0f a weld 6 to thus integrally unite the pipe and disc. Extending or bridging the space between associated and separated end anges is a flexible tube, connection or nipple 'l formed preferably of rubber, rubber compound or any material which is inherently flexible or which may lend itself to bending stresses Without becoming distorted to such a degree that a free ilow of substance therethrough is thereby impeded. Because of the flexibility of the nipple, one section of the pipe may vary vere tically or horizontally for a considerable extent with respect to another or adjacent section of pipe without interfering with the free unobstructed flow of material from one section to another. The interior diameter of the flexible nipple is preferably equal to the interior diameter of the metallic pipe so as to present no obstructions which will be Worn away by the combination of water, sand, gravel, etc. flowing through the piping. It has been found in actual practice that any obstructions such as those which might be formed by exposedfends of the pipe not-only are worn away in a relatively short operating period, to weaken the connection, but they also form means against which a dam will be built to obstruct the free flow of substance through the piping. For these reasons, therefore, it is preferred that the interior of the piping formed by the metallic and flexible members be of a constant interior diameter throughout their entire lengths.

The nipple has enlarged outwardly flared ends 8 each presenting a plane transverse end face 9 in .surface bearing relation or in intimate contact with avrelated co-planar transverse-surface It of anassociated end flange so as to present a leakproof seal between the nipple and adjacent section of pipe. Each nipple flared end has circular outwardly tapering or outwardly flared, in-

clined surface I I which, as will be hereinafter explained more in detail, forms .an abutting Lor wedging surface. Associated with eachY end iiange is a pair of substantially counterpart semicircular yokes, clamping ringsor split collars vI2 and I3, with each yokehaving outstanding therefromr intermediate'v its ends, radially disposed and outstanding, spaced, hinging lugs ld. The hingabout the bolts n in ya direction away from theV flexible nipple, as clearly indicated in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. Also as suggested in Figure 4 of the drawings, the iiexible nipple can easily be removed from between two sections of pipe in a direction normal toga diametric line passing through the hinging straps, once the clamping rings are hinged to an inoperative position. Y Y

Eachfclamping. ring oryoke has an` inner flared or tapered surface 25 circular information and arranged to bear against an inclined surface II i of the nipple. Any tightening action of the hingling straps and headed pins to shorten their effecing lugs in an assembled structureextend radially Y for a distanceslightly Ybeyond the periphery of the related endilange as lclearly indicated in Figures 2 and 4. Each washer is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed slots I5 which accommodate plate-like hinging straps IB, the latter of which bisect the washer 'and extend-between adjacent hinging lugs. Bolts Il or any other securing meansare threaded through aligned apertures inthe hinging lugs and strapsto pivotally secure the yokes to the end iianges. On a side of the end flanges removed Vfrom the yokes the hinging straps Vare provided with tapered keys yi3 which may-bedriven in place to draw the intermediate portions of the Vyckes toward the end flanges' and also thereby present a quicklyy removable means for effecting a partial separation ofth'e yokes and end flanges. The extremities of the clamping ring I2 are undercut as at- I9 while the free'ends ofthe clamping ring |3- arecountersunk asat 2E! with `the ends of the clamping rings at these `locations'extended as a reduced section radially or in an outward direction to 'l present overlapping clamping ears-2| and 22;respective ly. Inan assembled relation, the ears 2l loverlie the ears 22, with mated ears beingy superimposed one upon'another so that a pair of clamping ri-ngs form a. circular ring-like member. Extending through-aligned apertures in each mated 'pai-r. of ears is a headed bolt or pin 23 projecting through an accommodating aperture'in'the related-end flange to be bisected by a wedge or key'2li. Driving blows imparted to the keys will draw'ithe ends of the split collars toward the adjacent end dislodging blow impartedto the keys 24 will result in the pins23 being quickly removed toeffect 0r permit a hinging action of the'clamping rings' tive lengths will result in the flared ends of the nipple being drawninto tight or firm engagement,

with the contiguous surface of the end flanges to Ypresent a readily dismountable, leak-proof seal between the metallic pipe and exible nipple.

From the above it will be noted that various changes and alterations may be madel tothe illustrated and described construction lwithout departing from within the spirit-ofthe invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. In a pipe coupling, thek combination of a metallic pipe, afflange rigidly secured topsaid metallic pipe, a flexible tubularmember having an enlarged end in abutting relation lwith said flange, a pair of yokes'overlyingY saidenlarged end of said tubular member and being hinged intermediate their ends tofsaid flange, extremities of said yckes being disposed in overlapping relaticn, and meansremovably securing'fsaid'overlapping extremities to said ange.

2. In ja pipe coupling, thecombination ofa metalliclpipe, Ya flangesecuredfto sa-idmetallic pipe flush with ani'end thereof, a flexible tubular member having an iinside. diameter equalv tothe inside diameter ofsaid metallicr pipe, a iia-redend on .said exibleitubular memberfin abutting relation with said flange,clamping means forming a, continuous member-'overlying said flared end, meanspivotally connecting said clamping'means to said lflange, and.k means. spaced fromsaid first named `means connecting said clampingy means to said flange.

Brin a pipe coupling, the: combination Vofa metallic pipe; --avange secured to said Hmetallic: pipe flush with an 4end thereof, aiiexible tubular member having an inside diameter vequal to the insidediameter of said metallicr pipe, a aredtend on saidiiexible tubularr memberY in abutting relation with said flange, clampingimembers overlying Vsaid' flared end, diametricallyl disposed means pivotally connecting said clamping ,members to said flange, and oppositelydisposed means connecting said .clamping member toY saidfflange; all 0f said means being adjustable sofas to draw said 'clamping'. members towardV said iange.

4'. In a pipe coupling, the ,combinationfofi a metallic pipe,a flange secured `to .said metallic pipe flush rwith an end thereof, -a flexible. rubber member havingV an inside diameterA equal to. the ins-idediameter of said/pipe, atalzneredi enlarged end Aon said lflexible rubber memberszinsurface bearing. relation Vwithy said flange, clamping` members 'spaced from said ,flangev andyhaving inclined.- surfaces in engagement .withcsaid tapered'enlarged end, and meansconnecting said clamping members to said :flange 5...In a Apipeucoupling, .the combination kof a metallicpipe, a flange `securedto said pipe ladjacentfone -end'thereof, alflexibl'eltubular member having an enlargediflared endzportionin abutting 5 6 relation with said arige, split'colllars spaced from .REFERENCES CITED sa1d flange and having an inclined surface 1n bearing relation with said ared end portion, The following references are of record in the oppositely disposed means removably secured to le of this patent: said ange, hinging means pivotally securing said 5 split collars to said rst named means, and dia- UNITED STATES PATENTS metrically disposed means between said rst Number Name Date named means removably securing said split col- 946,396 Phillips Jan. 11, 1910 lars to said ange. 2,093,991 Boyer 1 Sept. 28, 1937 ARCHIE G. COLE. 10 2,291,709 GOetZe Aug. 4, 1942 

